The element of fire is threatening, the importance of staying grounded as often as possible, being able and reluctant to fly and soar, creating pathways through liminal places, sunrise and sunset, elusive wisdom, shyness, hiding your knowledge from others, rarity, preferring to have a range to choose from, selection is important, appearing inaccessible, camouflage and blending in, the power of the colour green.

Description

The western ground parrot is a Critically Endangered parrot found only in a small pocket of Western Australia. With only around 110 remaining (from a known population of about 400), it is one of the world’s rarest birds. They are a distinctive green parrot, with black and brown barring. It spends most of its time on the ground. They inhabit low heathland over deep, white sand. They are found around a high biodiversity of plants, with plenty of sedge. They prefer land that isn’t frequently burnt (preferably land that hasn’t experienced fire for decades, though they will compromise on that front). They consume a wide range of seeds, flower buds, the base of flowers and succulent leaves. They nest on the ground, in a small depression under thick and sometimes prickly vegetation.

They were described as a separate species to the Eastern ground parrot in 2010. The first photo was taken in 2004. They feed alone or with a single other bird. They do not often call or fly during the day. When startled, they will fly low in a zigzag pattern and land 100 metres or so away. They prefer to stay hidden in low vegetation and their plumage is excellent camouflage. They are most vocal at sunrise and sunset. It has a cryptic nature, and has not been well-studied. They are primarily threatened by feral animals like foxes and cats. They are seriously threatened by the possibility of bushfires. Their plants are threatened by the dieback fungus.

Well the kakapo (the bird in the video) isn't even in Australia, so there you go! They live in New Zealand only. Actually, for awkward ground parrots, we have the night parrot, the Eastern ground parrot and the Western ground parrot off the top of my head. I think that may be it though.